{"id":3706,"date":"2012-02-29T15:14:27","date_gmt":"2012-02-29T14:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=3706"},"modified":"2012-02-29T15:14:27","modified_gmt":"2012-02-29T14:14:27","slug":"cathedral-crypt-ambience-captured-by-chamber-choir-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2012\/02\/29\/cathedral-crypt-ambience-captured-by-chamber-choir-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Cathedral Crypt ambience captured by Chamber Choir: review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Second-year International Business student Matthew Bamford<\/strong> reviews last week’s Crypt Concert.
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The crypt of Canterbury Cathedral is an incredibly special and unique performance space. This intimate venue was host to the University of Kent Chamber Choir, conducted by Dan Harding <\/strong>and Steph Richardson.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aim of the concert was to explore a whole day from the rise of the sun right the way through until midnight. Using a blend of sacred and secular pieces the programme consisted of madrigals, part-songs, motets and two pieces for solo piano.<\/p>\n

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Image credit: Robert Berry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the first words of the plainsong Salve festa dies<\/em>, I knew that I was in for a very enjoyable evening. \u00a0This set the mood for the first section of the concert. Eric Barnum\u2019s Dawn<\/em> followed; the beginning of the piece using an incredibly simple harmonic structure. However at the end of the piece there was an interesting section where each of the sopranos sang an individual note of the scale. The composer\u2019s idea here was to \u2018create a golden light\u2019. I think it is fair to say that this was most definitely captured.<\/p>\n

My next highlight was the solo piano piece Un Sospiro<\/em>. One of Liszt\u2019z concert studies was expertly handled by second year music scholar Susan Li<\/strong>. The piece was received with rapturous applause after Li<\/strong> really brought out the richness of the piece.<\/p>\n

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Pianist Susan Li in rehearsal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the day began to draw to a close, there was time for some playful madrigal singing before bed. Tutto lo di,<\/em> a lively and fun piece written by Orlando di Lassus was intelligently sung by the choir. Despite the choir wanting to \u2018play all day\u2019, the long day did have to draw to a close with a beautiful rendition of this piece by Sullivan, conducted by Steph Richardson.<\/p>\n

After twenty minutes in which \u00a0to dwell on the first half, carrying a zebra print handbag (thanks Sophie!), the second half opened with the beautiful Sleep, Wayward Thoughts<\/em>. The mood of the concert then headed to a more relaxed state as we heard In Stiller Nacht<\/em> by Brahms. Sung in German, this piece focused on exploring the timelessness of night. This was captured well by the rhythmic sense of the choir and really was a very relaxing piece.<\/p>\n

We were treated to another lovely piano solo, Chopin\u2019s Nocturne in F Minor,\u2019<\/em>again received by the audience with excellent applause.<\/p>\n

The concert ended with Eric Whitacre\u2019s Sleep<\/em>, which really is full of colour. This contemporary piece was delivered to an outstanding standard which left the audience wanted more (although I\u2019m sure nobody was expecting the encore!).<\/p>\n

We all thought it was over, until we had the pleasure of Harding\u2019s<\/strong> arrangement of \u2018Moondance\u2019 by the legend that is Van Morrison. A completely contrasting piece to hear in the context of the rest of the programme, although everybody thoroughly enjoyed it and if like me, carried on singing it for the whole weekend.<\/p>\n

Thank you to Dan Harding, Steph Richardson, Susan Li <\/strong>and The University Chamber Choir<\/strong> for a fantastic Friday evening; I’m looking forward to the next concert on March 30th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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One more Moondance...Image credit: Robert Berry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n